Resident of Abington will be featured in the next exhibition of portraits

Our current exhibition of Philadelphia area portraits is at the beautiful Abington Arts Center in Abington, PA, just outside of Philadelphia. Sadly, one of their own will be represented in our next group of portraits which will premiere in the exhibition opening November 4 in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill.

Our exhibitions travel to neighborhoods and communities throughout the area and state. Some of the audiences that are able to see the portraits at these different locals are fully aware of the cost and damage of the epidemic gun violence because they live with it daily. In neighborhoods such as Abington and Chestnut Hill we reach a different sort of viewer, one that may think they are immune to the effects of this rampant violence. Our goal is for these portraits to, as we often state, make a connection that art has the power to make and to bring people to a place of empathy and awareness and the realization that something must be done. Our artists volunteer their talents in this quest and we urge you, dear reader, dear viewer, to use your talents, your abilities, to do what you can do to aid in moving towards peace.

Please read what his family had to say about this man, taken from us too soon:

“Born to Pearce and Victoria on March 19, 1950 at home in Guayama, Puerto Rico. Attended St. Peter's The Apostle Grade School and Roman Catholic High School, Philadelphia. Served in the United States Air Force and after discharge he started a career in law enforcement in Philadelphia. He was a member of the Warrant Unit and The United States Mint Police. He loved his work. He was broken hearted when he could no longer perform his job because of his injuries and the brutal pain caused by the bullet that had to remain in his spine. He was shot three times in the back. Pearce was a gentle, giving and loving person. He had a heart of glass and was meant to exist in a gentler safer world. He loved his fellow vets. He spent every Thanksgiving and Christmas serving meals and taking gifts to vets. He made them his special seafood salad with giant shrimp and stood in long lines to buy them Stocks famous pound cake. He and I were inseparable as children. We loved the Lone Ranger, Tonto, Wyatt Earp, Jeronimo, The Little Rascals and Sherlock Holmes. Our favorite poem was Wynken, Blynken and Nod. He loved to fish and hunt. I imagine him fishing in a twinkling sea. His pet dog Brisa was the love of his life. She comforted him with her nuzzles and funny noises which were meant only for him. She got him thru his days of pain with her love. We'll miss you forever, Your sister Audree, your nephews Gabe and Chris.”

Here is what the artist, Loren Dann, wrote about her experience getting to know Pearce and his family:

“The stories in this project are paramount to the work that is created. Connecting with the victim's sister, she told me Officer Vazquez's story and things that were important to him. I painted his dog, Brisa, beside him in uniform. Behind him I painted and I carved her stories about him, and things that were important to him. I wanted to honor what he valued and help his story to be heard.”

Portrait of Pearce Jose Vazquez-Lopez by Loren Dann. 36” x 36” oil and intaglio needle on canvas 2022